Helsinki for a Lads weekend??

The Gambler 101

Hi

There is a group of us lads headin to Helsinki for a weekend in Febuary, we are flyin to Tampere on the Friday, gettin train down to Helsinki for the Fri & Sat night, headin back to Tampere for the Sun nite and Flyin home on the Mon afternoon.

Can any one recommend any nice kind of budget hotels close to the night life and any goods pubs/clubs to head to?

Thanks

nads

i don't myself, but tell us how this goes, sounds class, did a lads boozey enough holiday to oslo, was class. Helsinki is on list so let me know how ye fare.

BuffyBot

For a lads weekend, it's an expensive place to choose. Drink is pretty expensive.

deman

Better off going to Turku, cheaper and probably more cosmopolitan.

DadaKopf

There's a lotta lies about Helsinki here! I lived there for a while, so I know my way around. Turku is a university town, as is Helsinki, but Helsinki is much bigger and more cosmopolitan, there's more to do, and it's nicer overall.

If you're on a 'lads' night out, then there's some meat-market type clubs around the main train station (Rautatientori). There's also a club somewhere off Mannerheimintie called 'Lost and Found' (or Losteri). Otherwise, a good street (and general area for watering holes) is Iso Roba (there's a popular place called 'Where's the Beef?'). But there's also areas in and around the new shopping centre directly behind the bus garage. There are also some hotels around there, but I think if it's budget you're looking for, check out www.hostelworld.com and find yourself a clean but inexpensive, centrally located hostel with private rooms. You'll find something on the web.

As for Finnish prices, I found it very comparable to Dublin (shows you how expensive Dublin is). By far the cheapest way to drink is to buy some booze in the nearest state-monopoly store (these are just booze supermarkets, unlike Sweden's System Bolagets), so no need to hand over ID numbers. I can't remember where the nearest city-centre one is; perhaps in one of the shopping centres in the centre. The prices are more or less the same as Dublin (except spirits, 'cos the Fins get to mental on them [it's a health thing]). Once you're well on your way, head out on the raz somewhere. This is what Finns do, and there's good reason for it!

But don't take my advice on bars; there are so many, just check them all out.

Have a good time.

Nightwish

Alcohol is just as expensive as it is here, so you shouldnt be too surprised. But if you drink spirits, the measures are twice or three times what you'd get here. There are LOADS of clubs and bars in Helsinki. I was only in 2 - Tavastia, which is a rock/metal club about 10 mins walk from the train station and LUX which is above the Kamppi Shopping centre, but is something of a VIP nightclub.
I saw an Irish pub called Molly Malone's which is meant to be very good (according to my Finnish friends) which is less than 5 mins from the railway station.
Oh and the R-Kioski stores are the places to buy your alcohol before going out, as they are relatively cheap.

deman

You could try posting the question here.

eskimoystava

For cheap accommodation check out www.omena.com, a budget hotel chain that has at least two hotels in Helsinki city centre.